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A warm and fuzzy autumnal welcome to the NST Super September Scrimping challenge, for newbies and seasoned debt busters alike.

(Don!!!8217;t want the following to sound too harsh but I need it this month)

September means for many getting back into the swing of new school and work routines. Also, the colder months are looming and we should maybe consider starting to get ready for winter and the festivities or at least start a wee bit of forward planning.

The whole idea of this challenge is for you to start looking to where you WANT to be, consider why you aren!!!8217;t at that point and start realising what is going WRONG. And also, I need you to help me because when I have people to answer to I won!!!8217;t spend anything!

Seriously though !!!8211; you can!!!8217;t save for a house if you have debt. You can!!!8217;t have a new kitchen if you can!!!8217;t afford the food to put in it!!!8230;!!!8230;!!!8230;!!!8230;!!!8230;. you need to get a debt free day graved in stone and start aiming for it. Enough is enough. Christmas is but 16 weeks away !!!8211; are you ready for that little charmer?

So again, I!!!8217;d like to go back to basics and a few stricter rules back form NinjasavingKat!!!8217;s days.

These are the rules!!!8230;.. clear and simple!

*This challenge starts on the 1st September at 00:01 and closes on the 30th September at 00:00.

*Try and check in once a day with your progress !

*Get a little notebook that you can fit in your bag, or a slip of paper! Write down everything you spend - good and bad!!

*You will aim for 18 SFDs!(Spend Free Days). If purchases of !!!8220;yellow sticker delights!!!8221; are made without full price items this is an SFD. Medication and normal monthly DD!!!8217;s or CC payments are exempt and you may class these days as SFD!!!8217;s also.

*Pay you debts and bills first, budget to live off what is left!

*You must decide on a budget for food now. This must be stuck to rigidly until the last day of the month ! Consider how much you REALLY need to feed your family, make meal plans, limit snacking with the kids or tell them !!!8220;when it!!!8217;s gone that!!!8217;s it until next week!!!8221;. Mine is £350.

*Try and eat everything in your cupboards and freezer BEFORE buying any more. Money spent each week will be for essentials !!!8211; bread, milk and fruit & veg before buying more. Get right down to the bottom of that chest freezer, get out those nearly out of date packets of rice. Stop stock piling for Armageddon and wasting money. I don!!!8217;t care if you are prepping for visitors or a !!!8220;just in case!!!8221; situation! (note to mainly myself: STOP SPENDING SO MUCH ON FOOD!) I need to defrost my freezer and clean my fridge so this rule will help

*You must bring your lunch to work every day. No coffee shops, no work canteen, no cafes, no sandwiches !!!8211; NOTHING. You will waste SO many precious £££!!!8217;s when something better can be created at home. If you think it doesn!!!8217;t matter and I won!!!8217;t find out !!!8211; you are right. But you are cheating yourself.

*Plot the course of your social life now before the beginning of September. Make sure you have a budget planned for meals that can!!!8217;t be wormed out of and birthdays etc. Money placed aside for holidays can be classed as !!!8220;no spend days!!!8221; !!!8211; anything over the budget will ruin that SFD!! Cancel something you really don!!!8217;t want to go to !!!8211;you HAVE to start making sacrifices now.

*Decide on your DFD!!!!8211; when do you want to start doing what you want to do???

*Beauty spends are not allowed to exceed £10. That includes you boys as well. Use up all that you have in the house BEFORE spending anything more on beauty bits !!!8211; seriously how many body moisturisers do you need ladies?

*Make time for yourself this month. Even if it!!!8217;s only 10 minutes a day do something for yourself whether that is going for a walk, having a bath with loads of bubbles or sitting outside with a drink !!!8211; we need to make the most of the evenings.

*Keep the heating off as long as possible, put a jumper on etc. We live in the north of Scotland in an 80s bungalow with metal windows. So it might be a challenge

Thrifty & Eager Elephant - If you want the older version of YNAB which doesn't have to be connected to your bank account (I have the older version and didn't know this was even possible), go to the YNAB website, scroll all the way to the bottom and there's a link which says older versions. They should still be good to go.

Checking in today. Spent £26.18 of my grocery budget, thanks to writing a list, some vouchers and only buying what I needed for planned meals. Made an extra payment to my debts of an amazing £5.44! Every penny helps though. Exercise involved walking to the shops and back carrying all the shopping with my 17 yr old DD.

I finally made an edible soup, they're usually too sweet or generally just disgusting! I used up the flaccid celery in the fridge, a couple of spongy potatoes and the dumpling mix from the back of the cupboard so I'm calling that a win for the use ups.

Time for self - counting a meet up with a friend, who treated me to lunch, as great chance to sit back and watch the world go by for a few hours.
Still no heating and managed to get two new loads washed & dried outside.

Running on 3 hours sleep today. Went to the doctor's early, bought a 17p 2l bottle of water to take with me, dropped off the case full of crafty bits on the way. Did my depression review (worse again - struggling to do anything besides looking after mum and feel important things are starting to fall through the cracks), prescrition for things I am running out of - need to go to CBT and prioritise my own health. Got a prescription for mum's long-term antibiotics and was just in time to catch the infirmary to sports village bus so only had to walk 2 blocks when I got off.

Walked back, did a quick tour of the town centre - bought 2 dresses for £15 each in the charity shop, one Jacques 'Green' and one silk monsoon dress in black and purple (I don't do purple) and bought more vitamin D tablets as the ones I have keep hiding.

Went to crafts - I have now been officially put in charge. One new man, several people missing as some were going on a trip , finished off the bits my partner and I had already agreed on on her angel (had about 4 things 'drying' last week so just putting them in place. The woman who likes to think she is in charge was 'helping' the new man (had already coerced one of the regulars into more book-folding whilst I and the other helper were collecting things from the cupboard.

As she -who-likes-to-think-she-is-in-charge was bsuy she had the other helper working on her angels (she wants 4) including one for next Tuesday and then wanted some of the things I had done when she saw the one I was working on. So helper one sewed rows of small flowers onto the 'dress', I stuck it on and redid another that was coming unstuck and then various other bits including 4 pairs of pipe cleaner arms and two pairs of sleeves.

New man did not take to book-folding (we had warned him that we were given the wrong instructions) but he was much more vocal than us - he was quite funny and think he enjoyed the illusion of having a 'harem'. We had to promise he would not have to do any more. When we asked him what his interests were he admitted to being a happy couch potato - his wife had dropped him off and collected him and I got the impression that she was organising him activities to get him out of the house - he's helping in the cs on Friday. He seemed to be content with being organised by others.

Walked home from crafts, had a drink and some of mum's soft centres then out again to hit the shops. Very spendy, sorry (actually I am not sorry). Twin pack of leggings (will wear out the old ones but they are thinning and have white 'whiskers' - presumably where lycra fibres have collapsed with exhaution), basic black skirt, teal skirt, various tops (combination of full price and sale items) in black, navy and turquoise and New Knickers - all the old ones can go. I will not have knickers that try to embarrass my in public places. £2 cow has now been emptied. Most of the things are replacements for things that are on their last legs and I shouldn't have to stay in when the weather is bad and my few clothes won't get dry.

Saw another travel agents and picked up a brochure for one of the coach companies who haven't yet got back to me, picked up some items for mum at HB (Arseda 1 for 68p, HB 3 for £1.25) and then went to Icyland for a quick home delivery, cost of which needs splitting into mine and mum's (mine was mainly a variety of frozen veg and some replacements for things Beloved used in her cooking binge).

Came home, ate leftovers, food came on the dot of 7pm, read my book, fell aslepp and woke at 11pm. Had to go down and turn off the heating (as anticipated they had put it on). Still lots to do but must be positive and think about what has got done (oh brought the bins in at mum's and at mine and successfully dried a sheet, bathmat and pair of socks.

Today I am grateful for understanding doctors, for not getting wet despite having no coat all day and for doing things efficiently.

Yesterday was a SFD and a whole day of a lot of me time went to the allotment for a couple of hours, did exercise, read book, fired up the hot tub

Today I need to get petrol so have looked to what I need for the rest of the week and will stop at the SM on way home

exercise will be power walking, should get at least 30 mins in & 10 mins hula hooping after work

Me time will be friend coming for dinner and hot tub this evening

Still zero spends on beauty

I need to sit down tonight and work out what my socialising budget is for the month!

use it up going well we had a snacky tea of hg veg, hm houmous, 2 pitas left in the freezer and a few pots of lo roasted veg lurking in the fridge Have put together a *use it up* box from the larder of things to eat over the month

Morning, early check in by me again. Think I might be in danger of being a morning person, that would definitely be a change.

Still recording every spend and luckily it all seems pretty low and well within budget at the moment. Don't think today will be a NSD as need to pay back my cousin for things she paid towards the family wedding at end of month.
Still not been grocery shopping. Managed to eat from freezer last night and actually have enough in staples to get away without anything but milk (and cheese) for the next few days. Scary how much food there is but want it gone so don't have to pack it for the house move.
Not taking my lunch to work today as will be fed there. Fingers crossed it is nice (usually is) otherwise will have to break out the emergency food in my desk.
Still no beauty spends but came so close this morning with emails about gift with purchase. However realised I have two drawers of various products to use first before I even think about adding to them so might end up with a 0 at the end of the month for this. One can only hope!
Me time - finished my new book last night and am meeting a friend for a walk / chat this evening which will also count towards my exercise targets.
Heating is still off. I am the only one in flat who feels the cold but if I even go to turn it on just get a lecture that the place is too warm so now just don't bothered and make sure there is a blanket in every room I might be sitting in for a any length of time. Sometimes I like the idea of living alone but suppose in this at least I am being forced to be MSE against my will!!

Ok better head to work before I end up wasting my early start to the day by not actually making it in early as planned.

Well done to loads of walking, using up odd things, fridge dinners, NSDs and YAY, to new freezers.

Also thank you for the YNAB hint. Will have a look later. Another NSD yesterday but today won't be. Rather than making an unstructured dash to the shops tonight because we're out of milk I pulled the big shop forward. Realised I can still get an ASDa pick up order in for tonight. So I took my list I started and refined it this morning. That will hopefully save me hitting the shops all weekend. Although might have to spend on the swimming pool on Sunday.

Last night I prepped the dinner for tonight, planned the next two night dinners and made a big batch of Bolognese/lasagne/chilli base. Starting to get better at this.

Like you Thrifty out of milk today, also need hair dye my roots are on show. Probably get bread and veg to keep me going over the weekend.

Went to Dr's appointment this morning and Dr had to cancel - grrr pity they didn't bother to let me know. Waited few weeks for appointment,. So now self treatment for my burning pain in my knee as I can't even ring until Monday to make a new appointment. Good old internet lol.

Off this afternoon so plan to get out in sunshine small walk before rain/ high winds arrive.

Eating out of freezer continues, Moussaka tonight. Will try roasting some beetroot to cheer it up - never cooked beetroot before.

Surrounded by sad news yesterday found out friends father had taken his own life, what a tormented soul. So sad. Today reports of a someone jumping off a bridge onto road locally. Hope they are alright. Awful why aren't they getting the help they need?

So no moaning from me.

Grateful for
loving family
gorgeous home
good health

LBM 13039 1.1.13 Start 2018 £5552 NOW £3720EEK house repairs pushed it back up end of last yr

Hi all,
Another spend free day today 5/30. After having a clear out of the receipts in my purse I've found two loyalty cards for the canteen at work and combining the stamps I'll get a free meal, so I'm going to treat myself to a free Chinese curry and chips I know that tomorrow has the potential to be a spendy day as we have the in-laws over for dinner and grooms suit shopping. Hopefully they won't mind me cooking rather than eating out.

Checking in..day 7/30 .. no spend day today as not leaving the house so 3/18 now..could be better but should have a few no spends coming up over the next few days.
Yesterday big spend day..even gave into a subway..very naughty! All within our means just less than ideal!
Hope everyone's enjoying the challenge
Lolly

It is exactly the same as a pizza dough, you just roll it into tiny balls and lob it into one of those small cake pop tins - someone gave me one they had forgotten in the back of the cupboard.

Quite handy as I had a jar of strawberry balsamic salad dressing in the back of the fridge so I filled a ramekin with that and floated a bit of olive oil on the top. The kids said it was exactly the same as Pizza Express. If you only have a cupcake tin , oil it and lob them in there, then they are Jumbo dough balls (bigger than a dough ball smaller than a roll).

Fear not the yeast! (I managed to find 2 tins of dried stuff in the fridge door - one will be used up this week)

Today should have been a NSD but wasn't, it was a less than £3 spend day, then I got home and realised I did have just enough stuff in to do the lunches tomorrow.

Did an inventory of the pantry and fridge and freezer and I have more than enough stuff in to do for the next week, as long as I prep properly and don't get lazy. DH is off to Holland for a week at the weekend and I am feeling antsy. Like I have forgotten something. I haven't, but I can't shake the feeling.

So still stuck on 4 NSDs but I have no immediate needs, and as long as I keep away from the shops I should be sorted until Monday

Up to 4 NSD's. Pushed weekly shop back to tomorrow as I will have to spend then for planned shopping trip.

Use up - everything is coming from freezer and cupboards if possible. Going to try and limit shop to must haves - cereal, dairy and F&V.

Exercise - lots. Been every day to gym. Just been to Indoor climbing session as our wedding anniversary 'us' time. Got a prepaid Groupon voucher. Ouch. I don't think I'll be doing any weights tomorrow.

Toiletries - decided to postpone make-up replacement. If it's been fine for years, 31 days isn't going to make munch of a difference.

Gratitudes -

1) Us time with husband. 13years married on Monday.
2) Flexible hours so I could take the time with him when surgery allows.
3) Counselling session. Reduced some of the permanent fear by putting together a plan for the next week. It left me exhausted though.
4) My cleaner. I don't have to worry about the kitchen when I get home late tonight after my AA meeting.

Eating up/ using up stuff - yep - more defrosted cooked chicken eaten today! And some hotel sachets of mayo

Lunches taken - yep.

Social life - none

Exercise - 2/3 for this week. Nothing formal for today, and fitbit only shows just over 7.5k steps

Beauty - £2.73/ £10

Time for self - still lacking - the perils of a back to school week/ new routines/ broken freezer!

Heating off - yep. Still mild

Gratitudes:
* DS2 liking his new school
* DS3 enjoying back to school - despite missing DS2
* DD having a good time away with boyf - and they are now on the plane home!
* free veggies brought around by my mum from her garden
* line dried washing
* prompt paying ebayers!

Day 7FurryBeastOz - Wishing you and OH a happy anniversary.
Number 5 SFD today.
Also did 20 minutes walking today.
Read my book on bus and at lunchtime.
Using up food in cupboards, fridge and freezer. Also still using creams etc I have so no need as yet to buy anything new.
Brought my lunch into work today.
Learnt some new things in work on the database. Pleased with that.

Frugal Living Challenge 2018Mortgage free as of 1st August 2013NST March: Marching to a different beat NSD 12/18

Today I amgrateful for the app that tells me when my bus is due (I had to run the 1/2 mile to the bus, as it was 5mins early!), for catching the bus, for a mild day, for the sights and smells of the market setting up on the High Street, for finding my memory stick at work, for getting my user profile straightened out (for now, at any rate...), for interspersing running and bus travel to get home, for sausage and mash for tea, for the Tim Ferriss books, for my sewing machine.

Just checking in - 7/30
Still no SFDs & I'm frankly not bothered as all budgets are being stuck to very well so far this month. Just back from camping trip tonight & amazingly have £1.41 of our camping food cashbag left!
We have talked about plans for cracking down on our autumn finances while we've been away & we are both really up for it. Have already decided that we will do our meal planning over breakfast tomorrow then mr f will go off to get the shopping while I get busy organising food stores in the kitchen......esp all tge fresh stuff we're still harvesting from our garden. Feeling motivated.
Exercise goal - 12,255 / 7000 steps today.
Time for me - beachcombing & watching the wildlife. Lovely.
Back home now. Looking forward to being proper scrimpy & catching up on reading how everyone's been doing.
F x

A SFD as the funeral was at 9.30am and we went directly from there to mum's (she had been hoping to go and look at sandals but was too tired and just wanted to go home), stopped at my house to pick up the shopping which I had left by the door (with all the fridge things in a bag in the fridge).

Mum liked my new navy top and black skirt and said she would pay for them. She gave me £50 when we were settled down and then when I divided the food bill up and gave her what I owed her, she gave me that back as well, so yesterday's clothes shop is now more modest.

Today I am grateful for food from the mystery drawer in mum's freezer (the sweet potato mash was actually chicken casserole), for new knickers (comfortable and secure) and for still having some energy left.

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